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Category Archives: Consumer affairs
Metric reminders for your holiday
As we approach the summer holiday season, Ronnie Cohen looks at the familiar metric units that we are likely to encounter wherever we go on holiday. And, yes, that includes the USA, although its exceptionalism is likely to provide us with a few problems. … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Health, Sport, Transport, Views from abroad
Tagged abroad, familiar, foreign, holiday, measurement units, metric, season, unit, units
6 Comments
Measuring tapes – choice for some
In the unlikely event of Donald Trump deciding to buy a measuring tape while he is in Britain, he will find a wide choice of a type that is popular in the US. Indeed, he may have difficulty finding any other. … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Technical
Tagged centimetres, feet, inches, measuring tapes, metric, USC
12 Comments
Hybrids, old and new
We have come across two examples of hybrid measures, and speculate if these might help in those countries struggling with the transition from old to new measures. Likes(30)Dislikes(4)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Recipes
Tagged cup, hybrid measures, imperial, imperial measures, measurement units, metric, metric foot, weights and measures
9 Comments
Think metric – don’t convert
The editor remembers this slogan from his time in the UK construction industry in the early 1970’s. Almost half a century later, Ronnie Cohen gives real-world examples of metric quantities that may help those who are not as familiar with … Continue reading
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Uncategorized
Tagged conversion, imperial, measurement units, metric, metrication, thnk metric
7 Comments
Is perfect the enemy of good?
Recent experience in France and Greece and a comment last week by Charlie P on this site has prompted us to ask if it would be better if supporters of metric measures were less pedantic. Likes(31)Dislikes(0)
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Media
Tagged measurement units, metric, perfect_is_the_enemy_of_good, SI
16 Comments
The new £50 note
It was announced today that the new polymer £50 note will celebrate the UK’s achievements in science, and will feature a prominent British scientist. Nominations from the public are invited. Likes(23)Dislikes(0)
Style guide revisited
The Measurements units style guide, published by UKMA in 2012, is now available on line with an index. In this article, we outline the purpose of the Guide and note recent enhancements. Likes(24)Dislikes(9)
Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, Media
Tagged Education, measurement units, metric, style-guide
21 Comments
Vehicle fuel consumption – another muddle
We look at vehicle fuel and energy consumption, and put some questions to owners of hybrid cars. Likes(25)Dislikes(7)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, Technical, Transport
Tagged energy, fuel consumption, hybrid cars, L/100 km, mpg
15 Comments
Isolationist or Imperialist?
On the eve of a showdown Cabinet meeting on Brexit, one of our frequent contributors, Ronnie Cohen, asks if British attitudes both to the EU and to this country’s metric changeover are part of the same mindset. Likes(31)Dislikes(0)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged cakeism, EEC, EU, imperial, isolationist, metric
9 Comments
Energy units – muddle in the making?
It was decided early in the 1990s that the unit for pricing of domestic gas should change from the therm to the kilowatt hour, which is a metric unit but not SI. We ask if this made ‘metric sense’. Likes(31)Dislikes(1)
Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Science
Tagged electricity prices, energy, gas prices, joule, kWh, therm
1 Comment